5 Unusual Ways To Find Style Inspiration

You’ve read the latest issue of Vogue, you’ve re-organised your wardrobe and your Pinterest board is fuller than Kim Kardashian’s backside. So how on earth do you feel so freaking uninspired when it comes to your style?

If you feel like you’ve exhausted all known methods of searching for style inspiration, it’s time to turn to these cheeky style inspiration sources!

Here’s 5 unusual ways to find style inspiration…

1. In Nature

“Oh god… here she goes with her dippy hippy cuffuffle”, I hear you murmur. But before you go ahead and press that ‘x’ on this page, what is about to follow contains no cliches of ‘feeling like the wind’ or ‘being at one with the ocean’. **Gags**

Everything is based on nature and just stepping outside can give you inspiration in terms of colours, textures, patterns and layers.

Walk through that forest, examine that impressive architecture in your city… you might just find some inspiration that will make you view the contents of your closet in a whole new light!

2. In Old Movies

Remember in the 00’s when we found our style inspiration in Lauren Conrad’s ‘The Hill’s’ Closet? Or when Reese Witherspoon totally made us want to don a pink suit a la Legally Blonde?

With the rise of social media and a growing online presence of style icons, TV and movies just aren’t cutting it when it comes to style inspiration.

Have a retro movie night and enjoy old classics such as ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’ or ‘Clueless’. These are just two of the thousands of movies that could give you that little bit of style inspiration that you really need.

3. The Elderly

Forget Gigi and Alexa, some of the best style icons are old enough to be our grandparents. Iris Apfel, Karl Lagerfeld…. need I say more?

Although the old lady next door may not exactly be rocking Iris’s funky glasses, she may know a thing or too about those tailored 1950s jackets that you never got to experience.

I adored looking at my Nana’s old photos from when she was in her 20s. She made a trench coat out of animal feed bags during World War 2 and she rocked it!

4. Travel

Travel is one of the most inspiring things you can do in so many elements of life, style included.

With so many cultures in the world, each with unique traditional ways of dressing, as cheesy as it sounds, the world is practically a runway.

My love of chunky bohemian jewellery stems from my travels through South-East Asia. My love of surf wear and effortless denim was born during my Summer working at Catalina Island, California.

If you can’t afford to travel yourself, travel magazines and travel websites are another great source of style inspiration.

5. Classic Literature

This is probably my nerdy inner English Literature grad coming out dressed in full-clad Ophelia gear donning a Great Gatsby headpiece to deliver her spiel.

Jokes aside, getting lost in a good book is like transporting yourself to a whole new world. With this, comes style inspiration from times gone by or from fantasy lands.

This is amazing. I haven't yet had a too bad time of being stuck when it comes to my style, but when I do I'll be sure to keep your tips in mind. I'm always inspired on day to day when I'm out surrounded by people, seeing what they're wearing. You look gorgeous in these photos Rachel!

I am definitely stuck in a rut at the moment and reaching for the same tried and tested outfits over and over again. Your tips are fab and I will have to try them out and see it I can inject a bit of creativity into my wardrobe again 🙂 x

Lately I've been in lack of inspiration despite the incredible of amount of inspiration I've been surrounded with, so I really need to sit down and cherish all I've seen and done this summer. Going outdoors, exploring the city and traveling surely are great ways get inspiration, but I think the sweetest (and most true) thing you mentioned was getting inspiration from the elderly. They weren't always old (nor will we always be young) and they have some great style advice up their sleeves. For example I got a leather jacket from the 50s from my grandfather and I still rock it during colder days. It's a true treasure. Thanks for giving my inspiration back!Thomas xx

Great post Rachel! Traveling and old movies are some of the best ways to find inspiration! By the way, your jumpsuit is so pretty. I love the lace detail and flare legs! Hope you're having a great weekend!

Most of my inspirations are found during my travel times. Maybe that's just one excuse I constantly use for myself so I can travel more =P I love learning the histories of the countries I visit and dive into their cultures. Sometimes reading books helps with my inspirations too.

What?! Your grandmother sounds amazing! During that time, fashion was secondary, so I admire her using her creating to improvise and create something out of nothing and look fabulous, too! I love all these suggestions you've made as well, all except the nature one I've used as a source of inspo. Thanks for sharing this, I'll definitely have my eyes opened for more inspiration in these sources when needed. I hope you have a great week ahead, beauty!

What a cool post girl! I totally agree and I've been there as well! I never realized until now that I do find a lot of inspiration in the elderly! So unexpected right!? And definitely traveling as well! I love seeing what people are wearing in different countries!!Thanks for sharing! Awesome pics too!!XOAimarahttp://www.waysofstyle.com

Hey Dear,How you?So True Darling and I find in Nature and while Traveling a Lot Inspiration:)But all your Tips are perfect and I can relate:)Ps, your photos are Gorgeous:)Wish you Amazing DayLove Open Kloset By Karina

I love this post! I've been needing some inspiration lately and sometimes Pinterest and Instagram can just literally feel like so much being thrown at me. I get inspired by other bloggers like yourself but sometimes it's nice to disconnect and just do what you wanna do and get inspired in nature like you said. Thanks for sharing your tips!

Awesome sources to find inspiration Rach!! You look AMAZING in that white outfit btw 🙂 Think I can relate better to travel because I learn new things and new experiences when I travel abroad. Can't wait to plan my next trip now that you mention about it *hehe*

Travel is definitely one of my inspirations, but I can also say people around you. Never be scared to ask an advice from a man. They know what flatters you most. I love how you styled this jumpsuit and it looks harmonically with the rest of pieces.

Yeah, you're so right. Sometimes it can be such a struggle. But old movies are always working for me as well as spending some time in nature. Also good old English novels and music helps me to find the missing bits. Thanks for sharing these wonderful tips.

Ahh I love love love this post! You're so right- it seems like there are countless bloggers, outfits styled galore on Pinterest, IG posts saved up the wazoo, but when confronted with our own wardrobes, I get totally stonewalled. Your suggestions of looking into nature and different cultures really hit home for me. It's remarkable how different style flourish on different people in different places, and simply being vigilant is key to taking it all in and finding inspiration. And your point about watching old movies- so true! Especially as we are seeing a return to all the 90's trends. That will inevitably go to the 80, 70's, 60's, etc. lol Finally your suggestion of just looking to the elderly was the cutest thing ever. With age comes wisdom after all! Thanks for sharing such a fun inspirational post!

This is awesome! You hit the nail on the head right from the start…how do we have it all and still feel uninspired? It happens so often to me! My fave tip is to look to nature…I feel that's where the colors can be the best find to find inspo! I wish I could travel more to get inspo that way too! Great tips!! xo, Jessica